This morning, the subject of integrity reared its head. I don't mean big moral integrity or any of the things that got embedded in my psyche through my upbringing, the protestant work ethic or learning to think for myself. No, it's far more bland than that.
More bland, but quite as important for a coach who is practised at encouraging clients to take care of themselves, 'put their own oxygen mask on first', not take on more than they can handle. It's about finding my own balance among the busyness and the needs of my clients and the demands of non-work commitments. How can I expect you to change your habits if I keep coming up against my own energy brick wall?
So, taking a leaf out of my own book, literally and metaphorically, I'm devising a short-cut exercise for noticing when I'm off balance and getting back on track before I end up reading three Patrick Gale novels in succession as an escape from the treadmill. Here's what I will be doing in the coming weeks to try to nip it in the bud. Call it my personal self-observation exercise (clients will be familiar with this one) and feel free to adapt it for yourself.
Self-observation - extreme self care
Purpose:
To monitor your energy levels and find ways to keep yourself balanced under pressure.
Instructions
At a convenient point in your day (before you start, at lunchtime - you remember lunch? - or at the end of the day ask youself:
- How am I feeling, physically and emotionally?
- How am I responding to day-to-day events?
- How clear is my thinking?
- How linked do I feel to my sense of purpose (my spiritual energy)?
Don't aim to change anything, just observe and make a note, perhaps in a journal you keep for this purpose. The aim is to understand what's going on for you.
Now ask yourself:
- What most gives me joy, and how can I bring that into my day?
- What one response can I re-think to a less stressful level?
- What one change can I make right now that will positively improve my energy?
- What will I do to take care of myself today?
